Welcome to our Autumn edition of'The Word of the Lord'- an email newsletter brought to you by the Scripture Working Group at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. You can find out more about the work of the group on our webpages here.
Below, you'll find updates of news, events, resources and developments which we hope you'll find beneficial for your continued engagement with the Bible - whether individually, as a family, as a parish community, or to share the Scriptures more broadly.
With every best wish,
Fr Adrian Graffy
Chair, Scripture Working Group
Evangelii Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel
Pope Francis The study of the sacred Scriptures must be a door opened to every believer. It is essential that the revealed word radically enriches our catechesis and all our efforts to pass on the faith. Evangelisation demands familiarity with God's word, which calls for dioceses, parishes and Catholic associations to provide for a serious, ongoing study of the Bible, while encouraging its prayerful individual and communal reading.
From Chapter 3: The Proclamation of the Gospel, pp. 87-88.
A NEW HEAVEN, A NEW EARTH: The Bible and Catholicity
By Dianne Bergant Orbis Books Pbk 208pp. £16.99
How are we to understand the Christ of history in the context of amazing discoveries like multiverses? How are we to reconcile findings in contemporary science that are cosmocentric with the religious message of the Bible when so much of the latter is anthropocentric? This ground breaking book experiments in reading the Bible through the lens of the integrity of creation. Each chapter examines an aspect of the natural world (determined by the biblical text itself) from the perspective of the principles of evolution and ecojustice. It gives scriptural justification for further investigation into an understanding of God, creation, and humankind in light of both theology and science.
This autumn why not make a Sacred Space in your day, praying with the help of scripture chosen every day and with on-screen guidance.
Using short meditations, questions for reflection, inspiring scripture texts and prayers, Sacred Space helps us to make time for God in an interactive, flexible and easy way.
Sacred Space is available on Apple/iOS and Android/Google Play devices.
ART EXHIBITION
COLOUR: The Art and Science of Illuminated Manuscripts
Rare exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge displaying 150 illuminated manuscripts from between 6th-16th centuries. They range from prayer books of European royalty and merchants to local treasures like the Macclesfield Psalter. Travel through Byzantine, Armenian, Persian and Sanskrit manuscripts and Nepal via Oxford, Paris, Bruges, Cologne, Florence, Venice, Constantinople, Jerusalem and Kashmir. Discover the secrets of original masterpieces and modern forgeries. See what cutting-edge technologies reveal about their materials, and the images’ meaning and value to their owners. 30 July 2016 - 30 December 2016 https://youtu.be/M-GmEZ8IfZE http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/colour
INITIATIVE: Wednesday Word
A brilliant resource for sharing the Sunday Gospels in a creative and dynamic way every Wednesday. "The materials produced by The Wednesday Word are already used extensively throughout the dioceses in England and Wales - bringing remarkable graces to many." + Vincent Nichols. President, Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. http://www.wednesdayword.org/
SOCIAL JUSTICE READING THE GOSPEL OF JOHN,
The Gospel of Relationship Jean Vanier Darton, Longman & Todd Pbk 144 pp. £9.99
Love of God and love of others are the two great commandments: Jean Vanier shows that these are the same thing. We express our love for God through compassionate care for one another and we encounter the love of God most tangibly through those closest to us.
In his chapter-by-chapter exploration of the Gospel of John, Vanier explains how Jesus taught this lesson at every step of his ministry. He includes stories from his work with L'Arche that express in earthly terms the great privilege we have of developing our relationships with one another and with God. http://dltbooks.com/titles/2171-9780232532555-gospel-of-john-the-gospel-of-relationship
RECOMMENDED WEBSITE
Sisters of St Andrew - an Ignatian Community An Urban Oasis between Lewisham and Blackheath, close to Greenwich. A beautiful round ‘Oast’ House Chapel with stained glass windows provides space for both personal and group prayer and reflection. There is also a vegetable garden and grass labyrinth. Welcomes individuals and groups for Ignatian retreats or just to come for a couple of hours/a day/overnight, to rest and reflect in silence.
See - http://www.sisters-of-st-andrew.com/
SCRIPTURE STUDY DAY
GOD’S MERCY IS FROM AGE TO AGE: The mercy of God in the Old Testament
Led by Fr Adrian Graffy
Since the early centuries of Christianity God has sometimes been understood as cruel and vindictive. This study day explores the presence of God’s mercy in the Old Testament, revealing that God is forgiving and compassionate, and a model for the mercy we must show to others. Saturday 8th October 2016 11.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m. Christ the Eternal High Priest Church 410 Brentwood Road Gidea Park RM2 6DH For more information: GPstudydays@gmail.com
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